Greek Myth: Hepaestus, Ares, Hermes

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HEPHAESTUS / VOLCANUS, VULCAN

- origin, home town
- what are the 2 versions of his birth
- what type of god (temperment), what does he stand for?
- god of ...
- patron of....
- promoter of ....
- physical characteristics
- husband of ______
- lusted after _____, who was born

GOD OF SMITHS

- non-Greek Origin. From the island of Lemnos (active volcano - he is also associated with volcanoes, and with the cyclopes who work at the forge in them. Also where he lands when he is cast from heaven, other version falls into sea)

- Lusted after Athena (sister) --> chases her, ejaculates on to her leg, she wipes off and throws on ground --> Erichthonius (1st king of Athens) is born

What do Hephaestus, Ares, and Apollo have in common (what do they represent)

Interests of Males, male occupations

What objects does Hephaestus Create?

- Pandora (out of clay)

- manacles binding Promethius

- ball of unbreakable thread (Ariadne)

Hephaestus - cycle of being cast from olympus

1. both parents detest --> thrown down by each of them (2 variants)

2. one version, land on lemnos, other version, land in the sea --> rescued by Thetis and the Nereids

3. "Return to Olympus" - has to be drunkenly guided back by a satyr

What does Volcanus mean?

Destructive Fire

ARES / MARS

- incarnation of
- god of
- originates in _____
- common in myth? worshipped a lot?
- wife?
- who did he have an affair with? What children were produced?
- in what book / which story is the myth found?

- Homer, Oddyssey, book 8: Ares, Aphrodite, and Hephaestus (Heph. catches them in the act)

How important in Roman Culture

Very important

HERMES / MERCURY

- root of name / meaning
- what is his function
- protector of (5)
- Psychompompos- Argeiphontes

TRICKSTER GOD OF TRAVELERS (foot)

- herma: stone heap marker

- herald and messenger of the gods

- protector of

1. travelers

2. those living in wilderness (Arcadia)

3. shepherds and flocks

4. merchants and thieves

5. heralds

- Psychompompos - "soul guide" - guide souls to underworld.

- Argeiphontes - "slayer if Argus" - one of his most famous deeds was to slay a hundred-eyed monster named Argus, whom Hera sent to watch over Io (one of Zeus' mistresses).

symbols of Hermes (3)

1. pedastus (traveller's hat)

2. caduceus (herald's wand)

3. winged sandals

Hermes is similar to which god?

Apollo - brothers, Hermes steals his cattle as a baby, but then gives him the lyre.

Homeric Hymn to Hermes

- Maia - his mom

- Pieria, Alpheus River

- Cyllenian Hermes (from mount cyllene, in Arcadia)

Offspring of hermes

Pan (goat)"the feeder" (represents his concern for pastures and fertility

Hermaphroditus (Salmacis)

Affairs of Hermes (2)

Syrinx - nymph he pursued, she turns into a reed, he slashes the reeds looking for her --> fashions the pan pipes

Echo - attendent of Hera that Hermes loved. She would keep Hera occupied while Zeus is cheating. Hera gets mad and decrees that she cant speak (start her own sentence) - only mimic what other people say --> "Echo"